State reopening guidance impacts City facilities and services

The City of Lenexa is following the guidelines of Kansas Governor Laura Kelly’s Ad Astra: A Plan to Reopen Kansas, which is strongly recommended by Johnson County. Lenexa Parks & Recreation will reopen facilities and resume some programs and events in limited capacities starting June 1, at the earliest.

Emerald Ash Borer

The emerald ash borer (EAB) — a beetle that is deadly to all types of ash trees — is spreading across the Midwest and Lenexa. Experts expect the beetle to kill 98 percent of the region’s ash trees over the coming years.

About EAB

How does EAB affect the tree?

Emerald ash borer beetles kill the tree by starving it of nutrients and water. Once the female lays her eggs on the bark of an ash tree, they pupate and become larvae. The larvae tunnel under the bark and disrupt the tree's vascular system by chewing on soft tissue that transports water and nutrients throughout the tree. After a couple of years, the emerald ash borer population grows exponentially inside the tree, and the combined damage will eventually kill it.

Where is EAB currently found?

EAB was first discovered in the United States in 2002 and first detected in northern Lenexa in August of 2014. It has now been found in all areas of the city.

Identification and diagnosis

Identify ash trees

EAB only affects ash trees, which can be identified by their opposite branding, compound leaf and paddle-shaped seeds.